Road Test
KIA THEN & WOW
Kia EV6 review: The all-new electric car from Kia that puts you in charge
JUST by chance, I was planning to compare the Pride – Kia’s first car from 30 years ago – with its latest bit of kit, the pure electric EV6.
I didn’t dare drive the Pride too far for obvious reasons. But that didn’t stop me falling in love with it.
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It’s a bit of a time capsule: His ’n’ her ashtrays, cigarette lighter, radio cassette player, map pockets and velour seats that make you all tingly with static electricity.
Driving it puts a big smile on your face. It’s so simple — and you’re in charge.
You can’t say that about new cars today, with driver-assistance systems that constantly tug at the wheel to keep you in a straight line.
This little car was honest and amusing, and the perfect reminder of how Kia, from day one, has given people exactly what they need.
If you chart Kia’s evolution over the past 30 years, it has continued to offer dependable and sensibly-priced motoring for all, made even sweeter by that seven-year warranty introduced in 2006.
Proof of all this is the Sportage, Britain’s best-selling SUV this year, even with an all-new version on the way.
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Need something small for nipping around town? You’ll want a Picanto.
Need something big for towing a caravan? You’ll want a diesel Sorento.
Kia makes lots of excellent cars.
For those ready to switch to electric, there are three long-range EVs to choose from: Soul, e-Niro and the impressive EV6.
Soul and e-Niro start under £35k and so qualify for the £2,500 electric car grant.
The EV6 starts at £40k and is the new standard for battery-powered Kias.
The Koreans have registered the names EV1 to EV9.
Regular readers of this column will know EV6 and Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 are closely related, virtually identical under the skin.
Same battery tech, speed, range and charge times. Just different haircuts.
The Ioniq 5 is proper Buck Rogers whereas EV6 is a bit more “normal”. Less of a jump.
Both can be recharged to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. Still not brilliant but how long did you queue for petrol at the weekend?
The only other firms using 800V charging tech right now are Porsche and Audi, and you know how much they cost.
The base EV6 Air is 225hp. Not the fastest ride at the fairground but it does have the longest range, at 328 miles.
The big-boy GT coming soon is 577hp.
Sitting nicely in the middle is the car we tried: The all-wheel drive GT Line at £47k.
That’s 320hp, still does north of 300 miles between charges, drives well — good body control, nicely weighted steering — and has all the toys and luxury you would expect from a car at that price.
Which brings me neatly to the interior. I like it. And so would Audi.
Crucially, it still feels like a cockpit and has the right mix of screens and switches.
It did take me ten minutes and lots of finger-jabbing to work out how to turn on the radio.
But once you realise the display panel cleverly flicks between stereo and air-con controls, you’re golden.
Other things that please: Big cup holders, tons of storage, lots of USBs, easy flip-down seats, wireless phone charging and top-down camera to help you park like a pro at Tesco.
I like a head-up display but this has an augmented-reality HUD that projects blue turn arrows on to the windscreen as you get closer to the turn.
It feels very much like the future because that’s exactly what it is. Over-the-air software updates will keep it fresh.
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Koreans are one step ahead with their electric car rollout.
EV6 is excellent and should fill them with, er, pride.
Key facts
KIA PRIDE
Year: 1992
Price: £5,799
Engine: 1.3-litre petrol
Power: 60hp
0-60mph: 11.8 secs
Top speed: 91mph
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